Higher National Unit Specification
General information for centres
Unit title:
Sports Massage Techniques
Unit code: DP8D 35
Unit purpose: This Unit is designed to develop basic massage and treatment planning skills to
provide individual sports massage treatment plans. It is intended for candidates who require a greater
understanding and knowledge of massage techniques in order to provide treatment for sports clients.
On completion of the Unit the candidate should be able to:
1
2
3
4
Consult with client to devise sports massage treatment plans.
Perform sports massage for maintenance, pre, post and inter competition on a client.
Perform advanced sports massage techniques on a client.
Apply, evaluate and modify sports massage treatment plans.
Credit points and level: 1.5 HN Credit at SCQF level 8: (12 SCQF credit points at SCQF
level 8*)
*SCQF credit points are used to allocate credit to qualifications in the Scottish Credit and Qualifications
Framework (SCQF). Each qualification in the Framework is allocated a number of SCQF credit points at an
SCQF level. There are 12 SCQF levels, ranging from Access 1 to Doctorates.
Recommended prior knowledge and skills: As this Unit builds upon general Swedish
massage skills, the candidate would benefit from prior knowledge delivered within HN Units such as
Body Massage, Anatomy and Exercise Physiology, Applied anatomy and Applied Physiology,
Clinical Assessment of Sports Injuries or equivalences at a related level. However, entry is at the
discretion of the Centre.
Core skills: There may be opportunities to gather evidence towards Core Skills in this Unit,
although there is no automatic certification of Core Skills or Core Skills components.
Context for delivery: If this Unit is delivered as part of a Group Award, it is recommended that
it should be taught and assessed within the subject area of the Group Award to which it contributes.
Assessment: Outcomes 1, 2 and 4 provide the opportunity to combine assessments.
Candidates must provide written evidence of client consultation and treatment planning skills and
demonstrate practical competency in applying sports massage techniques.
HN Unit (DP8D 35): Sports Massage Techniques
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General information for centres (cont)
Unit title:
Sports Massage Techniques
Treatment planning skills and performance of each of the following massage treatments to the whole
body or an appropriate body area:
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
maintenance massage
pre competition massage
post competition massage
inter competition massage
deep transverse frictions
soft tissue release
muscle energy techniques
These should be evidenced by means of an assessor checklist, though it may be appropriate to use
video or similar recording media. The candidate must demonstrate all of the knowledge and skills
detailed for Outcomes in a simulated or real therapy environment and within professional timelines. It
should be stressed that there are significant differences between a clinical therapy environment and
field type environments commonly encountered in Sports Massage.
Clients used for classroom observations may be from the candidate’s peer group. Supplementary
evidence may also be gathered from the holistic written assessment case study for Outcome 4.
Outcome 4 uses a minimum of two live case studies to facilitate the application, evaluation and
modification of a treatment plan on two different client types. Treatment should be applied under
supervised conditions which may be evidenced by a witness testimony if suitable.
HN Unit (DP8D 35): Sports Massage Techniques
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Higher National Unit specification: statement of standards
Unit title: Sports Massage Techniques
Unit code: DP8D 35
The sections of the Unit stating the Outcomes, knowledge and/or skills, and Evidence Requirements
are mandatory.
Where evidence for Outcomes is assessed on a sample basis, the whole of the content listed in the
knowledge and/or skills section must be taught and available for assessment. Candidates should not
know in advance the items on which they will be assessed and different items should be sampled on
each assessment occasion.
Outcome 1
Consult with client to devise sports massage treatment plan
Knowledge and/or skills
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
communication skills
consultation techniques
clinical assessment skills
aims and requirements of client
treatment planning
record keeping
Evidence Requirements
Candidates will need to provide evidence to demonstrate their knowledge and/or skills by showing
that they can on a minimum of three separate occasions:
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
communicate professionally with a client
relate to client in a sensitive manner
gather information to plan a treatment appropriate for the client’s requirements
recognise contra-indications and areas of special consideration
obtain informed consent
Assessment Guidelines
The assessment for this Outcome could be combined with Outcome 2 – 4 as part of a written/oral and
practical assessment for the Unit. Supplementary evidence may also be gathered from the holistic
written assessment case studies for Outcome 4. It may be appropriate to use a logbook or portfolio to
record all evidence.
HN Unit (DP8D 35): Sports Massage Techniques
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Higher National Unit specification: statement of standards (cont)
Unit title: Sports Massage Techniques
Candidates must provide written evidence of client consultation and treatment planning skills
Outcome 2
Perform sports massage for maintenance, pre, post and inter competition on a client
Knowledge and/or skills
♦
♦
Client and facility preparation
Application of techniques.
Evidence Requirements
Candidates will need to provide evidence to demonstrate their knowledge and/or skills by showing
that they can on a minimum of three separate occasions:
♦
♦
♦
prepare client and facility for treatment
apply the following techniques safely and effectively to appropriate area/s of the body
—
maintenance massage
—
pre competition massage
—
post pre competition massage
—
inter competition massage.
Complete treatment cards
Assessment Guidelines
The assessment for this Outcome could be combined with other Outcomes as part of a written/oral and
practical assessment for the Unit. Supplementary evidence may also be gathered from the holistic
written assessment case studies for Outcome 4.
Candidates must demonstrate practical competency in applying sports massage techniques. Treatment
planning skills and the performance of a minimum of one massage treatment for each of the above
techniques should be evidenced by means of an assessor checklist provided to record evidence.
Outcome 3
Perform specific sports massage techniques on a client
Knowledge and/or skills
♦
♦
♦
♦
rationale underpinning the 3 techniques
application of deep transverse frictions
application of soft tissue release
application of basic muscle energy technique
HN Unit (DP8D 35): Sports Massage Techniques
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Higher National Unit specification: statement of standards (cont)
Unit title: Sports Massage Techniques
Evidence Requirements
Candidates will need to provide evidence to demonstrate their knowledge and/or skills by showing
that they can on a minimum of three separate occasions:
♦
♦
♦
♦
apply massage techniques safely and effectively
apply techniques appropriate to specified area of need
complete treatment cards
provide a written rationale for the use of each massage technique
Assessment Guidelines
The candidate must demonstrate all of the knowledge and skills detailed for Outcomes 3 in a
simulated therapy environment and within commercial timelines. Candidates should demonstrate a
minimum of a single application of each of the massage techniques listed under knowledge and skills
to the area of need only. An assessor checklist should be provided to record evidence.
Supplementary evidence for the rationale underpinning techniques may be gathered in the form of a
closed-book exercise following a period of time for self directed candidate research using available
media sources.
Outcome 4
Apply, evaluate and modify sports massage treatment plans
Knowledge and/or skills
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
treatment planning skills
record keeping
programme modification
application of techniques
reflection and evaluation
Evidence Requirements
Candidates will need to provide evidence to demonstrate their knowledge and/or skills by showing
that they can on a minimum of three separate occasions:
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
carry out appropriate client consultation
apply selected techniques safely and effectively
evaluate treatment
elicit client feedback
plan for future treatments
offer aftercare and home care advice as appropriate
record information
HN Unit (DP8D 35): Sports Massage Techniques
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Higher National Unit specification: statement of standards (cont)
Unit title: Sports Massage Techniques
Elements listed under the knowledge and/or skills and must be demonstrated on each assessment
occasion. Evidence should be derived from practical assessment opportunities carried out on two
different clients in a realistic clinical environment and within commercial timelines.
Assessment Guidelines
The criteria for assessing the candidate should be based upon the choice of effective techniques
specific to the client’s needs. It may be necessary to use simulation of client conditions.
Assessment should ensure that the candidate has the opportunity to treat clients’ different
requirements. Practical treatment sessions should conform to commercially viable timescales and
evidence should be recorded on an assessor checklist. Peer group clients should not be used for
assessment 4.
HN Unit (DP8D 35): Sports Massage Techniques
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Administrative Information
Unit code:
DP8D 35
Unit title:
Sports Massage Techniques
Superclass category:
MD
Original date of publication:
August 2005
Version:
02
History of changes:
Version
02
Source:
Description of change
♦
Removal and restrictive requirements in Outcome 1
♦
Clarification of a muscle energy techniques in Outcome 3
♦
Minor change to guidance on content and context for clarification
Date
Feb 2007
SQA
© Scottish Qualifications Authority 2005, 2007
This publication may be reproduced in whole or in part for educational purposes provided that no
profit is derived from reproduction and that, if reproduced in part, the source is acknowledged.
SQA acknowledges the valuable contribution that Scotland’s colleges have made to the development
of Higher National qualifications.
Additional copies of this Unit specification can be purchased from the Scottish Qualifications
Authority. Please contact the Customer Contact Centre for further details, telephone 0845 279 1000.
HN Unit (DP8D 35): Sports Massage Techniques
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Higher National Unit specification: support notes
Unit title: Sports Massage Techniques
This part of the Unit specification is offered as guidance. The support notes are not mandatory.
While the exact time allocated to this Unit is at the discretion of the centre, the notional design length
is 60 hours.
Guidance on the content and context for this Unit
This Unit is an option on the HNC/D Fitness, Health and Exercise Group Award and is intended to
develop general massage and treatment planning skills to provide advanced massage techniques for
sports related conditions.
This Unit also gives the candidate the basic skills and knowledge for progression to Units:
♦
Work Experience (16 SCQF credit points) SCQF level 7 and 8
Outcome 1 underlines the importance of the consultation process. Candidates should be encouraged
to recognise the importance of the following:
♦
the consultation process is establishing client’s physical and physiological requirements
Treatment planning skills
The candidate should be encouraged to promote good communication with client’s through:
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
establishing rapport: greetings, use of names, handshakes, remembering personal information
following professional ethical and moral guidelines and demonstrating professional attitude:
—
time keeping
—
undertaking consultation
—
referring client on if necessary
—
seeking feedback on environment
—
comfort
—
pressure of techniques
—
appropriate record keeping
—
confidentiality
demonstrating an empathic attitude, keeping off out-of-bounds subjects
using active listening, open questions, appropriate Non Verbal Communication eg nodding
establishing appropriate balance of talking/silence/type of music
giving of clear instructions of what therapist will do and what client should do
clinical assessment skills should include: Specific consultation techniques to establish client’s
physical and physiological requirements
Physical requirements: ROM, pain management, stiffness, limb length, symmetry, injury and medical
history.
HN Unit (DP8D 35): Sports Massage Techniques
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Higher National Unit specification: support notes (cont)
Unit title: Sports Massage Techniques
Physiological requirements: Circulatory issues, breathing, medical conditions, inflammation, injury
and medical history.
Psychological requirements: self esteem, confidence.
Record keeping could include:
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♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
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client’s name, address, date of birth
occupation
medical history and medication
skeletal problems: what and where
muscular problems: what, where, cause if known, description of pain/ache
recent injuries: what, where, cause if known, have they had it treated
allergies
contra-indications
client’s aims and specific areas client requests treatment for
therapist’s aims and plan
informed consent — dated and signed by client and therapist
treatment record
observations and client feedback
The consultation process should be backed up with supplementary written evidence in the form of a
minimum of three treatment cards which demonstrate that the candidate has gathered the relevant
information required for clients they have treated. Written evidence for treatments of a minimum of
two clients will be gathered for Outcome 4, and may cover some of the Evidence Requirements for
this Outcome.
Outcome 2 provides the candidate an understanding of the uses and effects of different sports
massage routines. The candidate should be encouraged to rationalise:
♦
♦
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the effects and uses of different massage routines on localised areas of the body
the restrictions to treatment imposed by clinical assessment, and the significant differences
between this and field assessments commonly used at large events
client care, comfort and modesty
the utilisation by the therapist of correct biomechanics during application of techniques
Outcome 3 covers a range of specific massage techniques and their effects on various sports related
conditions. These should include:
♦
♦
areas of fibrous tissue and adhesions
maintenance of muscle tone
The range appears under the knowledge and skills section. The three techniques should be observed
during class time to ensure the candidate has the opportunity to treat clients with varying requirements
and on localised areas of the body.
HN Unit (DP8D 35): Sports Massage Techniques
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Higher National Unit specification: support notes (cont)
Unit title: Sports Massage Techniques
Media sources could include: internet, professional journals, books, articles, TV,
Outcome 4 addresses the importance of evaluating the effectiveness of the treatment and giving
appropriate aftercare and homecare advice for the client. Candidates should be encouraged to explain:
♦
♦
♦
♦
the reasons why evaluation is important
the importance of client feedback
specific aftercare and homecare advice
requirement for accurate record keeping
Supplementary evidence should be provided in the form of treatment plans/record cards, for
individual treatments, for two clients receiving consecutive treatments. This should include:
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
♦
an account of the treatment given with reference to client’s clinical assessment and therapist’s
aims including adaptations to treatment
rationale for different techniques used
localised contra-indications present
general and systemic conditions affecting treatment choice
an account of the treatment given with reference to client’s anatomical analysis, aims, needs
and therapist’s aims including adaptations to treatment
reasons why different techniques were used
client’s physical and physiological assessment as detailed in the support notes for Outcome 1
client feedback
any improvement
suitable aftercare and homecare advice given
evaluation of effectiveness of the treatment
plan for future treatments
data protection issues
Guidance on the delivery and assessment of this Unit
The Unit should be delivered in the second year the Group Award by which time candidates should
have a good appreciation of the Anatomy and Physiology and experience of practical, massage skills.
Delivery should be in the form of practical demonstrations with candidates practicing the skills
required to achieve the competencies. This should be supported by lectures and course notes relating
to the theoretical aspects of sports massage treatment skills.
A variety of teaching methods will enhance delivery. Practical demonstrations followed by peer
participation to practice techniques should form the bulk of the teaching approach. Group discussion
will allow for sharing of information from different professional experiences of sport and will help to
formulate approaches to treatment planning. Classroom observations will be undertaken to ensure
skills are effective within simulated working therapy environment before more extensive treatment
plans are carried out on two clients.
HN Unit (DP8D 35): Sports Massage Techniques
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Higher National Unit specification: support notes (cont)
Unit title: Sports Massage Techniques
Practical skills should be undertaken in a commercially viable timeframe with appropriate record
keeping. The use of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) should be encouraged with
research tasks using the Internet and other media to gain knowledge of the rationale behind sports
massage techniques and their subsequent application to sports related injuries and conditions.
Exposure to semi-professional sports personnel would enhance the delivery of the Unit and provide
high quality hands on experience for the candidate.
Practical assessments should be undertaken in the middle and near the end of the Unit. These should
be held in a realistic working environment and the procedures assessed against a checklist of the
knowledge and/or skills required as indicated by the assessor.
Open learning
Theoretical aspects for this Unit are appropriate for open and distance learning. However due to the
practical nature of the skills involved in sports massage techniques , practical classes would need to be
undertaken within therapy room environment to enable candidates to gain experience of the
application of treatments.
Candidates with disabilities and/or additional support needs
The additional support needs of individual candidates should be taken into account when planning
learning experiences, selecting assessment instruments, or considering alternative Outcomes for Units.
Further advice can be found in the SQA document Guidance on Assessment Arrangements for
Candidates with Disabilities and/or Additional Support Needs (www.sqa.org.uk).
HN Unit (DP8D 35): Sports Massage Techniques
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General information for candidates
Unit title: Sports Massage Techniques
This Unit aims to develop your general skills of manual Swedish massage through the addition of
therapeutic manipulation techniques such as deep transverse frictions, soft tissue release and an
introduction to muscle release energy techniques.
At the end of the Unit, you should be capable of devising a treatment plan to meet a client’s needs,
apply sports massage techniques with graduated pressure according to the location and stage of any
identified injury assessment and establish effective and empathetic communication with the client.
Where it may be advantageous to the recovery process, you should be capable of providing home
advice for the client.
HN Unit (DP8D 35): Sports Massage Techniques
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